100 schools receive 66,500 books in Rivers

The Rainbow Book Club has said that about 66,500 books were donated to the libraries of 100 schools in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, and its environs as part of the activities of the current UNESCO World Book Capital City project.

The club made this known in a statement signed by its founder, Koko Kalango and made available to our correspondent. It noted that the donations were part of the efforts aimed at developing reading and language skills among the youth under the World Book Capital City project.

Also, it said that with 30 days left for the World Book Capital City project to run its full course in Port Harcourt, efforts had been made to fulfill the goals of the project, including the creation of an army of change agents that are informed and empowered through reading.

Apart from the books donated to schools, the statement listed a number of achievements recorded in the last few months. They include the founding of about 200 book clubs in both public and private schools in Rivers State.

To supervise and monitor the book clubs, it added, about 300 teachers were trained on how to run and coordinate the clubs. The teachers were assisted by a team of volunteers.

The statement reads in part, “Every last Sunday of the month, students, writers and the general public meet at the Hotel Presidential to hold conversations on the book in focus. These discussions are followed by a drama performance which is usually, based on the book being discussed.

“Through this programme, we have promoted the books and their authors and in collaboration with the Arts Institute, University of Port Harcourt, five of these books have been adapted for stage and performed.

“Also, 73 Writers, both aspiring and established, have been celebrated and promoted on the national and international stages. More writers have had their works showcased and introduced to a wider audience, through the publication of two books titled ‘Nigerian Literature: A Coat of Many Colours’, parts I and II, respectively. These books are a compilation of 100 authors in Nigeria and their work.

“Two other publications, ‘100 Years Around Port Harcourt’ and ‘100 years Around Nigeria,’ were the products of a writing exercise celebrating the centenary anniversary of Nigeria and the famous Garden City, involving 600 secondary school students and 60 teachers from Rivers State and other parts of the country.”

Port Harcourt will formally relinquish its position as the UNESCO World Book Capital and hand over to Incheon, South Korea, on Thursday, April 23, 2015.